A few days have passed, and Asami was still staying at my place. I didn't mind. She was afraid, and I could keep an eye on her this way. I'd also noticed a change in her behaviour. She became more serious, and fooled around less. The attempt to take her life must have really scared and shocked her. She also listened to everything I said, like she was afraid something bad would happen again if she didn't take me seriously.

It seemed that the group of killers existed out if five people. Two were captured, and one was killed yesterday, so there were only two left. I doubted that they would show themselves anytime soon. It's obvious that they had underestimated us. They were some outsiders, rogues, who were too overconfident in they own skills, and that led to their demise. They were no threat anymore, not now we have tightened the security.

After I heard a knock on the door, I expected Keiji to enter the room, but looked up when I saw Asami come in instead. It was still a bit weird to see her with shorter hair. It first reached past her waist, and now it was shoulder length. Laying my pencil down, I leaned back into the chair. ''Is there something you need?''

Asami walked closer to the desk while fumbling with her fingers. ''Ehm, Keiji-san asked me to ask you if you'd like to eat something.'' she said. ''Since you've been working the whole day, he figured that you must be hungry.''

''I'm fine.'' I sighed as I turned back to my paperwork. ''I'll eat later.''

''Are you sure?'' I heard her ask. ''You've barely eaten anything today.''

''I'm not hungry now anyway, so it doesn't matter.''

''Okay.'' Asami sighed softly. ''Then I'll tell Keiji-san.''

Just when she was about to turn around, I called her name. ''Asami.''

She blinked a few times before she did as I said, slowly, almost hesitantly, making her way toward me. Walking around the desk, she stood now before me. I got off my chair and instead of looking up to her, I was now looking down.

I took her jaw firmly in my hand and turned her head slightly. "Are you feeling better?"

Asami hummed and grabbed the wrist of the hand I was holding her with. "I'm better now." She replied softly, and she placed her hand on her stomach, where her scar was. "The only thing that bothers me is that it still tingles a bit painfully sometimes."

"Of course you'd still feel it." I grunted as I turned her face back to me. "It's still sensitive and the skin isn't so thick anymore."

Asami pursed her lips and raised her hand from her stomach to my face. I squinted my eyes at first, but when her slender fingers gently took a few strands of my hair that were hanging in front of my face and put them behind my ear, a small smile appeared on her face. ''You look much better like this.'' she whispered. ''I can see more of your face.''

The cold fingertips of her fingers touched my cheek and she stood on her toes to give me a short kiss. When she pulled away, I grunted and turned her face again, this time up, and I bent down. Asami was a bit startled, but it didn't take long until she wrapped her arms around my shoulders.

The kiss was soft and slow, but there was a hidden passion beneath. It had been a few days since we'd kissed like this, and I was craving for more. Asami hummed softly when the kiss became more rough and bold and she tightened her arms around me, like she needed me for support. I placed my hands on her waist and pressed her more firmly against me. Asami flinched slightly, and for a moment, she pressed her lips together.

I broke the kiss and looked at her. She was panting faintly and her hand was softly pressed against her stomach. It didn't take long for me to understand what happened. ''Did I hurt you?''

''I-I'm fine.'' Asami stuttered, a faint blush visible on her cheeks.

"You're still getting flustered over just a kiss?" I chuckled.

Asami pouted. "That wasn't just a kiss!" She grumbled with an embarrassed expression as she looked away from me. "A-Anyway, I'll tell Keiji-san that you aren't eating with us." She mumbled as she turned around and quickly left my office.

Asami's POV.

''And?'' Keiji asked when I came back. ''What did he say?''

''He said he'd eat later.'' I replied at I sat down on a chair at the dining table.

''He's pretty busy, so it's understandable.'' Keiji muttered as he put the food on the table. ''After Yumi was killed and you got badly injured, not everybody is as comfortable in Konoha as before. Madara may not be the Hokage, but he's one of the founders, so he's still involved in this.''

I pursed my lips at the memories of when I was told about Yumi's death and the attempt to kill me, and clenched my fists. I'd rather not remember all that, but I knew I'd never forget it. I had a reminder carved into my body after all.

I sighed and picked up the cutlery. ''Are you going back to your family tonight?'' I asked out of curiosity. ''Since you're going back almost every evening the last few days.''

Keiji smiled brightly and nodded. ''Yes. Madara-sama told me I could go back. Now that the constructions of Konoha are done, there is less work for me to do.'' he said. ''Of course, after those incidents, it's been getting busier, but Madara-sama said he'd do that himself, so I'm free to go when I'm done with my work.''

I couldn't help but smile when I saw him talking so excitedly after I mentioned his family. ''Can I meet them?'' I asked hopefully. ''I'd really like to meet them.''

Keiji nodded. ''Sure.''

Keiji's POV.

Asami shivered and buried her chin farther into her scarf, her breath visible in the air. ''It's cold.'' she muttered.

I chuckled. ''Well, it is winter.'' I said. ''But we're almost there. My house isn't so far away.''

The wind howled softly, and I noticed Asami cringing a bit in response. She looked around her, and walked a bit closer to me.

''There isn't anyone here, Asami.'' I tried to reassure her. ''i'd have sensed them long ago if that were the case.''

Asami didn't seem very convinced, but she looked forward. ''Keiji-san?'' She asked softly. ''Can I ask you a question? It's okay if you don't want to answer it.''

''Sure.''

Asami was silent for a few seconds, like she was asking herself if she should really ask me. Now I was beginning to grow curious about her question. ''Well?''

''Ehm, Madara said you had personal problems once, and that was the reason of your absence back then.'' she began. ''What are those problems?''

''Ah, it's already solved.'' I said as I put my hands in my pockets to keep them warm. ''I had a fight with my wife. She was angry because I was barely at home. I only told Madara-sama I had something personal to take care off because I didn't want to bother him too much.''

''Oh, I'm glad everything is good between you two now.'' Asami muttered, but she sounded sincere.

''We're here.'' I announced as I stopped in front of my house and took out the key. After I unlocked the door, I let Asami in and followed her, closing the door behind me. After we took off out jackets and shoes, Asami followed me into the living room, where Kaede was sitting on the couch.

''Sorry for the intrusion.'' Asami murmured, attracting her attention.

Kaede smiled when she saw me, and stood up. ''Keiji, you're home.'' she exclaimed. ''And who is it you brought with you?''

I kissed her cheek and pulled Asami in front of me when she was still standing slightly behind me. ''This is Uzumaki Asami.'' I introduced her. ''I've mentioned her a few times, didn't I?''

''Ah yes, the girl who's with Madara-sama.'' she muttered, trying to recall all of the things I once said to her about the Uzumaki. ''Nice to meet you, Asami-san. I'm Kaede.'' She said as she held her hand out.

Asami smiled and took it, shaking it. ''Nice to meet you too, Kaede-san.''

''Is Yusuke already asleep?'' I asked when I looked around the room, not seeing my son around.

''He was tired.'' Kaede explained. ''So I brought him to bed.''

From the corners of my eyes, I noticed Asami pouting slightly, and I chuckled. ''You can meet him another day.''

''He looks a lot like Keiji.'' Kaede grinned.

Asami smiled when I beamed slightly but proudly. ''You have a really nice family, Keiji-san.''

Third Person.

After Keiji brought Asami back to Madara's mansion, he left again to go to his own. Asami was still too anxious to go back on her own, especially in the dark. When she'd locked the door from the inside, she took off her jacket and threw it over the chair, along with her scarf.

She decided to go upstairs. She wasn't very tired yet, but she just longed for a warm bed. When she entered the bathroom, she saw the door to the bathroom standing ajar. She figured that Madara must be in there, since she was sure she closed it before she went with Keiji.

Opening the closet, she took out a pair of jogging pants, which she used as pyjama, and a shirt she'd been lending from Madara. It was comfortable and soft. She took off her clothes and grabbed the pants, putting them on. But just when she was about to put on the black shirt, Madara came out of the bathroom.

''How was it?'' He asked as he sat down on the bed. ''Keiji's family?''

''Kaede-san is very kind.'' Asami said with a soft smile. ''But I couldn't meet Yusuke-kun. He was already asleep. Are you done with work?''

Madara sighed loudly and ran a hand through his long, messy hair, removing the strands that were hanging in front of his face. ''For today, I'm done.''

She chuckled and proceeded to put on the shirt, but halted her movements when Madara spoke up. ''Don't.'' he said as he held his hand out', waving with it. ''Come here.''

Asami actually wanted to put on the shirt, but did as he said, and walked slowly and hesitantly toward him. When she was within reach, Madara took her by her waist and pulled her closer to him. Asami shivered at the touch. His hands were cold on her warm skin.

The tips of his fingers brushed against the scar, and he looked up, watching how she'd react. She wanted to move back, but Madara held her in place with his other hand. Asami placed her hands on Madara's bare shoulders, still holding the shirt in her right hand, and pursed her lips at the strange feeling. As he kept caressing the deformed skin, he made sure not to press too hard. He looked up. ''Does it still hurt?'' he asked

''Sometimes.'' Asami muttered as she looked away. ''Mostly, it just starts hurting a bit, like a few hours ago.''

Madara didn't reply to that with words, but pulled her even closer and planted a kiss on her stomach. Asami gasped in surprise and looked down, only to see Madara looking right back at her with a somewhat mischievous glint in his eyes, and it made her shudder.

''M-Madara.'' she murmured as she squirmed around. Madara merely grunted and held her tighter, continuing his actions. The scar was still sensitive, and that was something they both knew.

Asami's breath hitched in her throat when Madara suddenly grabbed her upper arm and made her bend down. Her mellow lips were firmly pressed to his, and she held tighter onto his shoulders. This kiss. It was different. It felt good, but it also had something sorrowful, and that made her feel a bit uneasy, but she chose to ignore it, and let herself be engulfed in his warmth.

Asami's POV.

I pressed my cheek against his shoulder and closed my eyes. ''Madara?''

''Hm?'' He grunted hoarsely.

''Are you busy tomorrow?''

He was silent for a few seconds before he responded. ''Why do you ask?''

''You've been busy lately.'' I whispered softly and I looked at him. ''I miss you.''

''I have work to do.'' he muttered as he stared at the ceiling. ''But it won't last the whole day, like today.''

I smiled and moved closer to him, enjoying the warmth that was radiating from his well-built body. It had been a while since we actually spend time together, besides eating meals together in the morning, at noon and in the evening and sleeping in the same bed.

''Madara?'' I asked softly.

I didn't care if it was just sitting on the couch.

He grunted again, signaling he was listening.

I didn't care if we'd just do nothing.

I closed my eyes again, the gentle smile never leaving my face. ''I love you.''

I simply wanted to be with him.